Haley Jones

Haley Jones (she/her) is growing a compelling DE&I platform through her leadership of the American Staffing Association’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advocacy Group Council, also known as the Idea Group. With the impact of the global pandemic and George Floyd’s murder, ASA members were looking for a response as much as a sounding board. Jones, as director of member engagement of the association, stepped up to the challenge and gave root to DE&I program offerings that have quadrupled since 2020 and fostered candid and respectful conversations, even the uncomfortable ones.

Although today Jones speaks with confidence about her role in DE&I, for many years she tried to avoid drawing attention to herself to minimize people stereotyping her — but at six feet, one inch tall and at times the only Black woman in the room, not being seen was difficult. Through the Diversity Executive Leadership Program of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), she found her voice. She emphasizes, “Now, I have no problem taking up space in the room or voicing my opinions because our perspective matters, and differences in perspective matter.”

[DE&I should] inherently be in everything that everyone does. It should not be an afterthought.

When ASA members asked for a response to critical events, Jones influenced a pivot in the Idea group and changed their focus and initiatives. She recalls, “We made them a more forward-facing, member-facing group. It took some time, but we started putting out programs that directly addressed what was going on and provided the kind of resources people needed.”

By making uncomfortable conversations comfortable, Jones offers space for other people to find their voices and lean into differing perspectives with curiosity and courage. Over the years, the Idea group programming attendance has grown. DE&I efforts broadened, too, with a partnership with the Office of Disability Employment Policy, establishing a comprehensive resource site to aid in disability inclusion in staffing.

For Jones, the future for DE&I is to “inherently be in everything that everyone does. It should not be an afterthought. We should look through a DE&I lens from the beginning, not plan something and then see where we might be able to check a box here and there. Because checking a box doesn’t cut it.”